VA Benefit Programs

Applying for VA Benefits

In order to receive VA benefits, you must declare a major and have official acceptance into Thomas University. This major must correspond with the major listed on your application for veterans’ benefits.

Submit the following documents to the Office of Financial Aid:

1. Application for veteran or survivor/dependent benefits (VA Form 22-1990 or 22-5490) OR apply online at http://www.gibill.va.gov/ OR submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility.

Please note that you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees up front each semester unless you are receiving Vocational Rehab or Post-9/11 benefits at the 100% tier. Otherwise, you may apply for financial aid to cover tuition and fees, if eligible.

What the VA will not pay for:

Courses from which you have withdrawn

Repeating a course that you have earned a grade of “D” or better, unless the course is a prerequisite for other required courses, and the department policy requires a grade of “C” or better

Courses that are not required for your major

Audits

Open electives for which you have equivalent transfer credits

Chapter 30, 1606 and 1607: veterans are responsible for verifying enrollment at the end of every month. You can verify your enrollment by calling 877-823-2378 or online via W.A.V.E.

*PLEASE NOTE* All benefit payments including housing (BAH) are paid in arrears at the end of each month directly to you from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Post-9/11 students must be enrolled greater than half-time each semester to receive BAH payments, and you cannot enroll in all online classes and be paid for housing.

HERO Scholarship

The HERO scholarship is designed to provide educational scholarship assistance to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones, and the children and the spouses of such members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S Military Reserves.

To be eligible to apply for a Georgia's HERO Scholarship, you must meet the requirements of one of the following four categories:

Be an active member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves who is a Georgia resident and was deployed outside the United States for active duty service to a location designated as a combat zone and served in such combat zone for at least 181 cumulative days, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, or served less than 181 cumulative days in a combat zone, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, but was evacuated because of severe injuries.

Be the child of a parent who was a member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves and a Georgia resident when he or she was deployed outside of the United States for active duty service to a location designated as a combat zone and served in such combat zone for at least 181 cumulative days, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, or served less than 181 cumulative days in a combat zone, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, but was evacuated because of severe injuries. Such child must have been born prior to the qualifying term of service or within nine months of the beginning of the qualifying term of service and must have been 25 years of age or younger during the qualifying term of service.

Be the child of a parent who was a member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves and a Georgia resident when he or she was deployed outside of the United States for active duty service to a location designated as a combat zone, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, and who was killed while serving in such combat zone, or died or became 100% disabled as a result of injuries received in such combat zone. Such child must have been born prior to the qualifying term of service or within nine months of the beginning of the qualifying term of service and must have been 25 years of age or younger during the qualifying term of service.

Be the spouse of a former member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves who was a Georgia resident when he or she was deployed outside of the United States for active duty service to a location designated as a combat zone, beginning on or after February 1, 2003, and who was killed while serving in such combat zone, or died or became 100% disabled as a result of injuries received in such combat zone.

Eligible students may receive up to $2000 per academic year. Award amounts are prorated for school terms in which recipients are enrolled for less than full-time (12 hours).

Veteran's Scholarship

Thomas University supports former and current military personnel by providing a scholarship for those who served in one of the U.S. operations in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 ($500 per semester award), or a special tuition rate for those who are currently on active duty ($250 per credit hour for tuition). Students must be enrolled in 9 credits or more per semester.